Means for operating machine-guns.



A. B. KNOTTS.

MEANS FOR OPERAT ING MACHINE GUNS APPLICATlUN FILED OCT- 1915. 1 179,635. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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A. KNOTTS-, MEANS FOR OPERATING JACHINE- GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED ,OCT. 9. I915.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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A. B. KNOTTS.

MEANS FOR OPERATING MACHINE GUNS.

APPLlCATlON FILED ocT.9. 1915.

Pat ented Apr. 18, 1916.

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dim 4? UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

[ADDISON BURGESS KNOTTS, 0F RAMOS, LOUISIANA.

I MEANS FOR OPERATING MACHINE-GUNS.

To all whom 2 2 may concern:

Be it known that I, ADDISON B. KNOTTS, residing at Ramos, in the parish of St. Mary and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Means for Operating Machine Guns, of which the following. is a specification.

The invention primarily has for its object to provide means for concealing machine guns and operating them from a distance. In order that this may be accomplished, the gunis located in a .pit and is mounted on a bed that is normally held in a lowered position to conceal the gun below'the bank of the pit, there being mechanism provided whereby the bed may be released and elevated to bring the gun abovethe bank of the pit when desired; the invention further provides mechanism for automatically actuating the firing trigger of the gun and mechanism for automatically oscillating the gun in a horizontal plane to sweep the horizon through a predetermined angle.

The invention in its general nature comprises a gun carriage of the concealed type, having spring devices for raising the gun to the firing position and mechanically operating devices for oscillating the gun when raised,-and also'mechanism for releasing the firing trigger at the same time, the several parts being operatively controlled by a releasable mechanism of any desired type, preferably one that can be operated at a considerable distance from the pit in which the gun is located whereby a single operator may. effect the operation of a large number of guns.

In its more subordinate nature, the invention includes a special governor mechanism to prevent the unduly rapid rising of the gun bed from the concealed posltlon to the firing position.

In its detailed nature, the invention includes those novel details of construction,

combination and arrangement of parts, all

of which will be first fully described, then bespecifically pointed out. in the appended claims, reference being had to the' accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing amachine gun provided with my invention and in the elevated or firing position, the ground foundation being. shown .in section. Fig. 2

is a side elevation, the ground foundation Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1 8, 1916..

Application filed October 9, 1915. Serial No. 55,003.

being in section and i lustrating the parts in the lowered position. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectlon on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is

a detail horizontal section on the line 4'l of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view on an enlarged scale of the governor mechanism. Fig. 6 is a side elevation and part section of the governor mechanism. Fig. 7

is a detail view showing a modified form of latch device for holding the bed and base in the proximate relation.

In the drawings, inwhich like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, the base is composed of the longitudinal beams 1 which are arranged in angular relation to each other to form, as it were, a somewhat diamond shaped base, the beams 1 being braced by cross beams 2 intermediate the ends and end cross plates or beains 34 I respectively.

5 designates a pair of longitudinal beams secured on the beams 1 and arranged in parallel relationship, the beams 5 carrying cleats 6 to which the auxiliary elevating springs 7 are secured. The springs 7 lie along the beams 5 and are secured at 8-to a cross cleat or bar 9 that is fastened securely to the extension 10 of the brace section 11. The brace is composed of the .two sections 11 and 12 that are hinged together at 13 and said brace is pivoted at 14 to the base structure and at 15 to the bracket 16 that is secured beneath the plate 17 of the bed structure.

The bed structure iscomposed of the bottom plate 18, the top plate 28 and the spacers 29 and this bed is sustained by a pair of front legs 20 and a rear leg 23. the-legs 20-23 being hinged at 19 and 22 respectively to the base structure and at 24 to the brackets 21 and 25 on the under side of the bed structure. 7

26 is a recess in the foundation (which may 'beearth, stone, concrete, or any other suitable foundationmaterial) and in the recess 26 there is located the main elevating spring 27, one end of which is designed toengage the bottom of the recess and the other end is designed to engage the plate 17.

30 is the pivotshaftor oscillating shaft on which the machine .gun 70 is mounted for oscillation in a horizontal plane. the oscillating act being performed mechanicallyby virtue of a spring motor 38 and by an op erative connection between the same and the shaft 30. This operative connection comprises a pinion 31, on the shaft 30, that meshes with a gear 32 on a stub shaft 33, the gear 32 having radial arm 3+l on which is adjustably mounted a sliding block 35 to which the connecting rod 36 is pivoted, the rod 36 being. also pivoted to a wrist pin 37 on the case of the spring motor 38. The spring motor 38 includes an operating spring that is secured at &1 to the block 29, and may be wound up by any suitable means, as by a crank (not shown) that can be placed on the squared end of the motor shaft, there being a ratchet and pawl device 40 provided to' hold the motor spring while winding.

The spring motor shaft is provided with one or more notches +12 to receive a pivoted latch dog 43 (see Fig. 2) that holds the motor from operation while the gun is 'depressed, the latch dog 43 being moved out of the engaging position by a pin 44 on the extension 4-5 of the leg The extension45 also carries the arm 46 which is designed to engage the tongue 77 of the trackway 7 8 to raise the traokway to the horizontal position when the gun is in its raised position.

The bed is held down in juxtaposition to the base when the parts are in the folded position, (see Fig. 2) by any suitable latch mechanism that can be released by an operator at a distance. As an example of a construction that can be employed it will be seen in Fig. 1, that I provide a bracket 47 from which is pendently supported the arm 48 that carries the latch 50, the latch 50 being designed to engage under a holding member 51 in the base when the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 2. The latch 50 includes an extension 4-9 that is designed to be engaged by the holding member 53 that is pendently supported in the bracket 52 and may be adjusted by a set screw, as best shown in Fig. 1. the holding member 53' being designed to be released by a pull cable or wire 54 that can be operated from a distance.

55 is the governor mechanism, the construction of which is, perhaps, best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, by reference to which it will be observed that the governor mechanism is composed of a base member having an annular flange 56. 57 is theshaft of the governor on which the plate 58 is firmly secured. 6O designates wings which are hinged at 59 to the plate 58 and are drawn together by springs 62, it being understood that the wings 60 are provided with balls 61 that enable the plates to be thrown outwardly,thus bringing the brake shoes 63 into engagement with the flange 56 with a pressure that increases with the speed of rotation of the governor. In order that the action of the governor may be adjusted as desired the wings 69 have thrc Fig 2*and secured in place,

the medium of which the shoes 63 are adjustably fastened to the wings. Each shoe 63 is also provided with a facing 66 of leather or other suitable material that is secured inplace by screws or in any other suitable way.

G7 is the bobbin or spool on the governor shaft 57 on which the cable 68 is designed to be wound, the cable 68 passing over a sheave 69 that is secured to the bed to extend down and suitably fastened to the base structure.

The machine gun 70 is made of the usual type and I make no claim to the construction thereof per se, it being understood, however, that the gun is provided with the usual firing trigger75. To the gun, I attached a bracket 73 in which a bell crank is fulcrumed, the shorter end 72' of the bell crank being designed to engage the trigger 75 when the longer arm 71 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 1 and, conversely, the end 72 is designed to operatively disengage the trigger when the end 71 is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The longer end 71 of the bell crank lever is provided with a roller 7i that is designed to run. on the trackway 73, the trackway 78 being hinged at 76 to the bed and designed to belowered or raised according to the position of the bed.

The bed latching mechanism instead of being releasable by a pull cord 54-. as hereinbefore described, may be released by an eX- plosive cartridge 79,'see Fig. 7, that will break the holding connection. The cartridge 79 may be designed to explode through the operation of an electric current suitably controlled by the operator in any well-known manner.

Many other ways may be provided for releasing the bed to permit the gun to be elevated and operated and I therefore do not limit myself to theemployment'of any particular latching device for holding the bed to the base or-any particular means for releasing the bed to permit it to be elevated.

The manner in whichthe invention operates will be best understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In practice, the gun is, of course, loaded and adjusted to fire through the predetermined area and sighted to fire at a predetermined objective. This is, of course, done by rais-- ing the bed to the position shown in Fig; 1, after first disconnecting the bell crank 72 so as not to operate the trigger mechanism. The spring motor 38 may then be wound up and the bed lowered and latched in place. The cable 68 can be wound on the drum 67 by hand in the initialsetting of the parts. After the'gun has been aimed to fire over a predetermined area and at a predetermined objective, it is lowered to the position shown after which the bell crank 7172 is again attached, care being taken, however, not to discharge the gun 1n replacing the bell crank.

If desired, the gun can be covered with suitable paper or oil-cloth covering and dirt thrown over it to conceal the battery, or other means of concealment may be employed, as is the practice.

, the position shown in Fig. 1. As this oocurs, the governor mechanism will dampen the action to prevent the too rapid raising of the'parts and the consequent possible disarrangement of the same. As the bed reaches its elevated position, the pin 44 automatically released the dog 43 whereupon the spring motor is set into operation to impart oscillating movement to the gun. At the same time, the extension 45 raises the trackway 78 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, and thereby rocks the bell crank lever 71 72 to press the trigger 75 to the firing position .and hold it there while the gun is being It will be noticed that by reason of the adjustability of the oscillating mechanism through the medium ofthe slidable block 35 on the arm 34, the angle through which the gun may be oscillated can be set, as desired.

For instance, if the gun is located to defend a mountain pass, the angle of oscillation would be, of course, less than where the gun is set in the open to defend a large area.

I desire it understood that I have disclosed herein a practical embodiment of my invention, but do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the special features of construction further than they are specifically recited in the appended claims as many changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I further desire it understood that by the use of my invention it is possible for the operator to destroy the guns which are in danger of falling into the'hands oi the enemy. .For example. an explosive charge may be located in the pit designed to disable the gun and its supporting carriage, .the fuse for which can be timed to act to ,set off the charge after tliei glln has complet'ed firing its charge, the fuse being ignited at the time the gun is elevated by any means that are now well-known and as I do not claim such as a part of my present invention, I have made no disclosure herein.

In order that the mechanism may be mounted on unlevel ground or in a hurry when desired, I provide leveling devices which are best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. These devices consist of bushings 80 which have flanges 81 and are secured in the base 1 and through which the leveling screws 83 are passed, the screws 83 being secured in their adjusted positions by 1am nuts 84, the screws 83 may be turned by handles 85'and they have collars 82 that abut the plates 87, the plates 87 being a pertured to permit passage of the spiked ends 86 of the screws 83 so as to enter into the ground and prevent the gun from slipping, it being understood when the leveling screw devices are employed the spring 27 is sup ported by a saddle plate 88 and suitable hangers 89.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

hat I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a base, a bed, legs pivoted to said bed and to said base, a brace for holding said bed elevated, springs for elevating said bed, a latch devicefor holding said bed folded down, a machine gun on said bed, mechanism for oscillating said gun to sweep the horizon, a latch device for holding said oscillatingmechanism inactive, a trigger actuator and a device for releasing said oscillat ing mechanism and moving said trigger actuator to operate the gun.

In an apparatus of the class described, a base. a bed, legs pivoted to said bed and to said base, a brace for holding said bed elevated, springs for elevating said bed, a. latch device for holding said bed :toldcd down, a machine gun on said bed, mechanism for oscillating said gun to sweep the horizon, a latch device for holding said oscillating mechanism inactive, av trigger actuator. a device for releasing said oscillating mechanism and moving said trigger actuator to operate the gun, and a governor mechanism for checking the elevating movement of said bed.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

a base, a bed, connections between said bed.

20 stop and operating said trigger pressing -mechanism.

5. In .an apparatus of the class descrlbed,

. ing movement of the leasing said bed holding latch.

trigger, means for c'illating mechanism ing action, a stop 4, In an apparatus of the class described,

a base, a bed, legs hinged to said base and to said bed, a main bed elevating spring, a foldable-brace hinged tothe base and bed, auxiliary springs connecting; the brace with the base, a governor device coiiperating with to control the elevatbed, a gun having a trigger, means for pivoting said gun on said base to sweep the horizon, motor driven mechanism for effecting the sweeping action, a stop for holding said motor driven mechanism inactive at times, a trigger pressing mechanism, and a the elevation of thebed the aforesaid structure for releasing said hinged to said base and to said bed. a main bed elevating spring, a foldable brace hinged to the base and bed, auxiliary springs connecting the brace with the bed, a governor device cohperating with the aforesaid structure to control the elevating movement of the bed, a gun having a pivoting said gun on said base to sweep the horizon, motor driven mechanism for effecting the sweeping action, a stop for holding said motor driven mechanism inactive at times, a trigger pressing mechanism, a device operative by the elevation of the bed for releasing said stop and operating said trigger pressing mechanism, a latch for holding the bed folded down against thev base, and means for rea base, a bed, legs 6. In an apparatus of the class a base, a bed, legs hinged to said base and-to said bed, a main bed elevating spring, a foldable brace hinged to the base and bed, auxiliary springs connecting the brace With the base, a governor device cotiperating with the aforesaid structure to control the elevating movement of the bed, a gun having a trigger, means for pivoting said gun on said base to sweep the horizon, motor driven osfor efi'ecting the sweepfor holding said motordriven mechanism ger' pressing mechanism, a device operative by the elevation of the bed for releasing said stop and operating said trigger pressing mechanism, said oscillating mechanism including an adjusting device whereby the degree 'of oscillation may be set to occur between predetermined limits.

foldable brace ge'r pressing device operative by base, a governor device described,

inactive at times, a trigleasing said bed track, a

the gun trigger to actuate the trigger when I auxiliary springs connecting the brace, with the bed, a governor device coiiperating with the aforesaid structure to control the elevating movement of the bed, a gun having a trigger,

means for pivoting said gun on said base to sweep the horizon, motor-driven oscillating mechanism for effecting the sweeping action, a stop for holding said motor driven mechanism inactive at times, a trigmechanism, a device operative by the elevation of the bed for releasing said stop and operating said trigger pressing mechanism, a latch for holding the bed folded down a ainst the base, means for releasing said be holding latch, said oscillating mechanism including an adjusting device whereby the degree of oscillation may be set .to occur between predetermined limits.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a base, a bed, legs hinged tosaid base and to said bed, a main bed elevating spring, a foldable brace hinged "to the base and bed, auxiliary springs connecting the brace with the cotiperating with the aforesaid structure to.control the elevating movement of the bed, agun having a trigger, means for pivoting said gun on said base to sweep the horizon, motor driven mechanism for efiecting the sweeping action, a stop for holding said motor driven mechanism inactive at times, a trigger pressingmechanism, a device operative by the elevation of the bed for releasing said stop and operating said trigger pressing nism, said trigger pressing mechanism inand the gun trigger to actuate the trigger when said track iselovated, said'device that is operated by the elevation of the bed including a member for 1egledil ating said track upon elevation of the 9. In an apparatus of the class described, a-base, a bed, legs hinged to said base and to said bed, a main bed elevating spring, a foldable brace hinged to the base and bed, auxiliary springs connecting the brace with the bed, a governor device co'ciperating with the aforesaid structure to control the elevating movement of the bed, a gun having a trigger, means for pivoting said gun on said base to sweep the horizon, motor driven mechanismfor effecting the sweeping action, a stop for holding said motor driven mechanisminactive at times, a trigger pressing mechanism, adevice operative by the elevation of the bed for releasing said stop and operating said trigger pressing. mechanism, a latch for holding the bed folded down against the base, means for reholding latch, said trigger pressing mechanism including a depressible bell crank engaging said track and said track is elevated, said device that is opmecha- /spring, a foldable brace hinged to the base and bed, auxiliary springs connecting the brace wlth the base, a governor device cooperating with the aforesaid structure to control the elevating movement of the bed, a gun having a trigger, means for pivoting said gun on said base to sweep the horizon,

motor driven oscillating mechanism for effecting the sweeping action, a stop for holding said motor driven mechanism inactive at times, a trigger pressing vmechanism, a device operative by the elevation of the bed for releasing said stop and operating said trigger pressing mechanism, said oscillating mechanism including an adjusting device whereby the degree of oscillation may be set to occur between predetermined limits, said trigger pressing mechanism including a de pressible track, a bell crank engaging said track and the gun trigger to actuate the trigger when said track is elevated, said device-that is operated by the elevation of the bed including a member for elevating said track upon elevation of the bed.

11. In an apparatus of the class-described, a base, a bed, legs hinged to said base and to said bed, a main bed elevating spring, a foldable brace hinged to the base and bed, auxiliary springs connecting the brace with the base, a governor device cooperating with the aforesaid structure to control the elevating movement of the bed, a gun having a trigger, means for pivoting'said gun on said base to sweep the horizon, motor driven mechanism for effecting the sweeping action, a stop for holding said motor driven mechanism inactive at times, a trigger pressing mechanism, a device operative by the elevation of the bed for releasing said stop and operating said trigger pressing mechanism, a latch for holding the bed folded down against the base, and means controllable at a distant place for releasing said bed holding latch.

12. In combination, a machine gun, a disappearing bed, upon which' the same is mounted, motor driven mechanism for moving said gun to sweep the horizon, a gun trigger operating mechanism, and mecha? nism for raising said bed and setting said motor driven mechanism and said trigger operating mechanism into action.

13. In combination, a machine gun, a disappearing bed upon which the same is mounted, motor driven mechanism for movingsaid gun to sweep the horizon, a gun trigger operating mechanism, mechanism for raising said bed and setting said motordriven mechanism and said trigger operating mechanism into action, and holding devices releasable by the operator for holding the bed in the lowered position, and means for holding said sweeping mechanism and said trigger operating mechanism inoperative when said bed is in the lowered position.

14:. In combination, a machine gun, a .disappearing bed on which the same 1s mounted, motor drlven mechanism for moving said gun to sweep the horizon, a gun trig ger operating mechanism, mechanism for raising said bed from the lowered to the elevated position, a device for holding said bed down, and means for first releasing said bed to permit said elevating device to operate and then releasing said motor driven mechanism and actuating said trigger operating mechanism as said bed reaches the raised position.

15. In combination, a machine gun, a disappearing bed upon which the same is mounted, a base, foldable connections between the base and bed, motor driven mechanism for moving the gun to sweep the horizon, gun trigger operating mechanism, mechanism for raising the bed and setting motor driven operating mechanism and said trigger operating mechanism into action, {and leveling screw devices for leveling said 16. In an apparatus of the class described, a base, leveling screw devices carried by said base to engage the ground, a bed, legs'hinged to said base and to said bed, a main bed elevating spring, a folda-ble brace hinged to thebase and bed, auxiliary springs connecting the brace with the base, a governor device cooperating with the aforesaid structure to control the elevating movement of the bed, a gun having a trigger, means for pivoting-said gun on said base to sweep the horizon, motor driven oscillating mechanism for effecting the sweeping action, a stop for holding said motor driven mechanism inactive at times, a trigger pressing mechanism, a device operative by the elevation of the bed for releasing said stop and operating said trigger pressing mechanism, said oscillating mechanism including an adjusting device whereby the degree of oscillation may be set to occur between predetermined limits, said trigger pressing mechanism including a depressible track, a bell crank engaging said track and the gun trigger to actuate the trigger when said track is elevated, said device that is operated by the elevation of the bed including a member for elevating said track upon elevation of the bed.

ADDIbON BURGESS KNOTTS. 

